Itsmyluckyday not getting the respect, at least on ML

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — At the end of January, a colt named Itsmyluckyday was on the fast track to the Kentucky Derby. The son of Lawyer Ron had just beaten 2-year-old champ Shanghai Bobby in the Grade III Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park, and was pointed to the Grade I Florida Derby at the end of March.

Itsmyluckyday, trained by Eddie Plesa Jr. would go off as the 7-5 favorite in the biggest race of the Gulfstream season, but would have to settle for second behind the imposing Orb. He was only beaten 2 3/4 lengths.

One would think, off those two performances, that Itsmyluckyday would head to Kentucky with more than a puncher’s chance to make some noise in the Run for the Roses. Why not? Despite the loss, Itsmyluckyday is one of four horses (Verrazano, Revolutionary and Goldencents are the others) to have a speed number of 100 or more.

The horse has five wins in 10 career starts, even though four of them have come in the Sunshine State (two at Gulfstream, two at Calder).

Yet, when the morning line was drawn at Churchill Downs on Wednesday, Itsmyluckyday was dismissed at odds of 15-1 — one of five colts at that number — by oddsmaker Mike Battaglia.

Plesa didin’t get it.

“You’ve got a person making odds on what he sees on paper,” the 64-year-old trainer said on the Churchill backstretch. “The horses are like our children. If your child is playing baseball, and he’s sitting on the bench, do you think your child should be on the field? Absolutely. Does it hurt a little bit? Yeah. But life is what it is. Is he getting the respect that maybe I feel he deserves? Probably not.”

After the win in the Holy Bull, Plesa backed off on his training on Itsmyluckyday. He said he never worked his star very hard before the Florida Derby. That, afterall, was not the goal.

“The Florida Derby, as much as I would have liked to win it, that’s not what I’m here for,” Plesa said. “I look at this horse (now) and say I’ve done the right thing. He’s doing great. I wouldn’t trade him for any horse in the race. I’m not a fool. You’ll hear from him in the race.”

This will be the second horse Plesa starts in the Kentucky Derby. In 1999, he saddled the filly, Three Rings, to a 19th place finish. Elvis Trujillo, who has ridden Itsmyluckyday in his last two starts, will be riding in the Kentucky Derby for the first time.